Portable cockpit yoke assembly for mounting on a radio controlled transmitter used with a model airplane

ABSTRACT

A cockpit yoke assembly adapted for mounting on top of a RC transmitter for controlling the operation of a model airplane. The yoke assembly includes a first control arm with a throttle knob. The first control arm is attached to a first ball and socket linkage adapted for attachment a first joystick on the transmitter. A rudder control lever is attached to the first control arm. The yoke assembly includes a second control arm with an elevator knob. The second control arm is attached to a second ball and socket linkage adapted for attachment to a second joystick on the transmitter. An aileron control lever is attached to the second control arm. The first and second ball and socket linkage are used for moving the first and second joysticks fore or aft and left or right during the operation of the model airplane.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(a) Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a mechanical device for an operation of astandard radio controlled transmitter or RC transmitter used forcontrolling a model airplane during take off, in flight and landing, andmore particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a portable, cockpityoke assembly adapted for mounting on top of the RC transmitter. Theyoke assembly provides for positive control of the airplane andeliminates a model airplane operator or pilot using his or her thumbsfor operating a pair of joysticks on the RC transmitter.

(b) Discussion of Prior Art

In U.S. patents, U.S. Pat. No. 4,386,914 to Dustman, U.S. Pat. No.5,878,981 to Dewey, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,331,114 to Massey, threedifferent types of mechanical and electrical transmitter extensionapparatus and flight console are described to operate a remotecontrolled model airplane. These apparatus and console are large andcomplex in design and similar to an actual aircraft flight simulatorused for training commercial and military pilots. Also, the prior artsimulator-like apparatus are floor mounted, they are not portable norare they adapted to be hand carried and mounted on top of a standard RCtransmitter.

In the hobby of flying a model airplane, a RC transmitter is used forcontrolling and flying the airplane. A receiver is mounted in theairplane for receiving commands from the transmitter operated by a modelairplane operator or pilot. Today, a standard RC transmitter, which canoperate on any number of selected radio channels, uses a pair ofjoysticks to send commands to the airplane. The left joystick is movedfore or aft by the pilot's left thumb for operating the plane's throttleand applying power thereto. Also, the left thumb is used to move theleft joystick left or right for operating the plane's rudder andchanging the direction of the plane. The right joystick is moved fore oraft by the pilot's right thumb for operating the plane's elevators andclimbing or descending the plane. Also, the right thumb is used to movethe joystick left or right for operating the plane's ailerons andbanking the plane.

A key problem with operating the two joysticks is a novice orinexperienced model plane pilot will often move, for example, the leftjoystick with his or her thumb and cause the plane to speed up or slowdown and then inadvertently slip into turning the plane's direction atvirtually the same time. Also, the pilot will often move the rightjoystick with his or her thumb and cause the plane to climb or descendand then inadvertently slip into banking the plane at virtually the sametime. The subject invention is designed to prevent this operator errorby eliminating the control of the two joysticks by the model planepilot.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, it is a primary objective of the subjectinvention to eliminate a direct contact of a pair of joysticks on astandard RC receiver by the thumb and fingers of a model plane pilot andprovide a positive and improved operation of a model airplane.

Another object of the invention is the cockpit yoke assembly islightweight, portable and can be quickly and easily mounted on top of astandard RC Transmitter with mechanical linkage adapted for attachmentto the transmitter's two joysticks.

Still another object of the subject yoke assembly is to provide a handgrip, a throttle control knob, an elevator control knob, a ruddercontrol lever and an aileron control lever, which are similar to thecockpit controls found in today's airplanes.

The portable cockpit yoke assembly includes a yoke body with a verticalyoke post. The post is adapted for mounting on top of a standard RCtransmitter. A hand grip, with a pair of hand grip handles, is mountedin front of the yoke body.

A horizontal, first control arm, with a throttle knob mounted on one endof the first control arm, is slidably mounted in the front of the yokebody. The first control arm is attached to a first ball and socketlinkage. The first ball and socket linkage is adapted for threadableattachment to a top of a first joystick or left joystick on thetransmitter and for moving the first joystick fore or aft and left orright. A rudder control lever is also attached to the first control arm.

A horizontal, second control arm, with an elevator knob mounted on oneend of the second control arm, is slidably mounted in the front of theyoke body. The second control arm is attached to a second ball andsocket linkage. The second ball and socket linkage is adapted forthreadable attachment to a top of a second joystick or right joystick onthe transmitter for moving the second joystick fore or aft and left orright. An aileron control lever is also attached to the second controlarm.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent tothose familiar with the operation of flying a model airplane whenreviewing the following detailed description, showing novelconstruction, combination, and elements as herein described, and moreparticularly defined by the claims, it being understood that changes inthe embodiments to the herein disclosed invention are meant to beincluded as coming within the scope of the claims, except insofar asthey may be precluded by the prior art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate complete preferred embodiments inthe present invention according to the best modes presently devised fora practical application of the subject cockpit yoke assembly when usedin operating a model airplane, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the subject portable, cockpit yokeassembly. An electronic telemetry unit, used for tracking a modelairplane during flight, is shown in dashed lines positioned for mountingon top of the yoke assembly.

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the yoke assembly, similar to FIG.1, and positioned above a standard RC transmitter with a first or leftjoystick and a second or right joystick. The two joysticks are used forcontrolling the operation of the model airplane.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the yoke assembly and illustrating themechanical linkage used for attachment to the two joysticks.

FIG. 4 is another perspective view of the yoke assembly mounted on topof the RC transmitter and held next to the stomach of a model planeoperator or pilot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In FIG. 1, the portable cockpit yoke assembly is shown having generalreference numeral 10. The yoke assembly 10 includes a yoke body 12 withan upwardly extending dashboard 14. The dashboard 14 can be used formounting an electronic telemetry unit 16 thereon. The telemetry unit 16is shown in dashed line. The telemetry unit 16 is used for keeping trackof a model airplane during flight. The model airplane isn't shown in thedrawings.

Mounted in front of the yoke body 12 is a hand grip, having generalreference numeral 18. The hand grip 18 includes a pair of hand griphandles 20, which are held by a model airplane operator or pilot 22. Thepilot 22 is shown in dashed lines in FIG. 4. The hand grip 18 isstationary and is not used for controlling the model airplane. A portionof the left hand grip handle 20 has been cutaway to help illustrate thecontrols of the yoke assembly 10.

A horizontal, first control arm 24 is slidably mounted, as indicated byarrow 27, in the front of the yoke body 12 and includes a throttle knob26. A first lever arm 28 is pivotally mounted, as indicated by arrow 29,on the first control arm 24. A first ball and socket linkage 30 ispivotally attached to the first lever arm 28. The first ball and socketlinkage 30 is adapted for threadable attachment, as indicated by arrow31, to a top of a first joystick or left joystick 32 on a standard radiocontrolled transmitter or RC transmitter, having general referencenumeral 34. The first joystick 32 and transmitter 34 are shown in dashedlines in FIGS. 2 and 4. The first ball and socket linkage 30 is used tomove the first joystick 32 fore or aft, as indicated by arrows 33, andmove the first joy stick left or right, as indicated by arrows 35. Also,a rudder control lever 36 is attached to and pivotally operated on thefirst control arm 24.

Referring now to both FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, a horizontal, second controlarm 38 is slidably mounted, as indicated by arrow 39, in the front ofthe yoke body 12 and includes a elevator knob 40. A second lever arm 42is pivotally mounted on the second control arm 38. A second ball andsocket linkage 44 is pivotally attached to the second lever arm 42. Thesecond ball and socket linkage 44 is adapted for threadable attachmentto a top of a second joystick or left joystick 46 on the RC transmitter34.

The second ball and socket linkage 44 is used to move the secondjoystick 46 fore or aft, as indicated by arrows 33, and move the secondjoy stick left or right, as indicated by arrows 35. Also, an aileroncontrol lever 48 is attached to the second control arm 38.

Also shown in this drawing is a stomach rest 50 having a threaded endfor attachment to the center of the hand grip 18. The stomach rest 50includes a stomach engaging round plate 52 for placing against the modelplane pilot's stomach for providing stability during the flightoperation of the model plane.

In FIG. 2, the yoke assembly 10 is shown disposed above the standard RCtransmitter 34 with the first joystick 32 and the second joystick 44positioned for threadable attachment to the first ball and socketlinkage 30 and the second ball and socket linkage 44. In this drawing, alower end of a vertical post 54 is attached to the top of thetransmitter 34. An upper threaded end of the vertical post 54 isreceived through an elongated slot 56 in the yoke body 12 and attachedto a threaded nut 58 for securing the yoke assembly 10 on top of thetransmitter 34.

Also shown in this drawing is a shoulder strap 60 with strap fasteners62 for attachment to the hand grip handles 20. The shoulder strap 60 isreceived around the neck of the pilot 22 and on top of his or hershoulders for supporting the cockpit yoke assembly 10 and the attachedRC transmitter 34 thereon.

In FIG. 3, a bottom view of the yoke assembly 10 is shown illustratingthe mechanical linkage used for attachment to the two joysticks 32 and34. In this drawing, the second control arm 38 is shown having a coilspring 64 therearound. The coil spring 64 is designed to return thecontrol arm 38 to a neutral position after the elevator knob 40 has beenmoved the second control arm 38 rearwardly or forwardly for raising andlowering the model airplane's elevators during flight.

In FIG. 4, a perspective view of an assembled cockpit yoke assembly 10is shown mounted on the RC transmitter 34 and held next to the stomachof the model plane operator or pilot 22 for added stability. When usingthe yoke assembly, the pilot's hands can rest on the handle grip handles20 and when not operating the controls of the model airplane.

During the take off of the airplane, power is turned “on” to the RCtransmitter 34 and a radio channel is selected to communicate betweenthe transmitter and the receiver mounted in the model airplane. Thepilot 22 can now use his or her left hand for moving the throttle knob26 and first control arm 24 forward for increasing the power to theplane during takeoff. The pilot 22 can also use his or her left hand toleft hand for moving the rudder control lever 36 up and down, asindicated by arrow 37, shown in FIG. 1, for adjusting the plane's rudderand the direction of the plane onto the runway, during takeoff andduring flight.

As the model airplane moves forward to take flight, the pilot 22 can nowuse his or her right hand to move the elevator knob 40 and the secondcontrol arm 38 rearward for adjusting the plane's elevators to begin tolift the plane into the air. When the plane has reached a selectedaltitude and speed, the pilot 22 can now use his or her right hand tomove the aileron control lever 48 up or down, as indicated by arrow 49,shown in FIG. 1, for banking the plane either to the left or right andreturn the plane for landing.

While the invention has been particularly shown, described andillustrated in detail with reference to the preferred embodiments andmodifications thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in theart that equivalent changes in form and detail may be made thereinwithout departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention asclaimed except as precluded by the prior art.

The embodiments of the invention for which as exclusive privilege andproperty right are claimed and defined as follows:
 1. A cockpit yokeassembly for controlling a model airplane, the yoke assembly adapted formounting on a standard radio controller transmitter or RC transmitter,the RC transmitter having a first joystick or left joystick forcontrolling the plane's throttle and rudder, the RC transmitter having asecond joystick or left joystick for controlling the plane's elevatorsand ailerons, the yoke assembly comprising: a yoke body adapted formounting on top of the RC transmitter; a first control arm slidablymounted on the yoke body; a throttle knob, attached to one end of thefirst control arm, for moving the first control arm forward and rearwardon the yoke body; first linkage means attached to the first control armand adapted for attachment to the first joystick, whereby when thethrottle knob is moved forward or rearward on the yoke body, the firstlinkage means for moving the first joystick fore or aft and controllingthe throttle on the airplane; a rudder control lever attached to thefirst control arm, whereby when the rudder control lever is moved upwardor downward, the first linkage means for moving the first joystick leftor fight and controlling the rudder on the airplane; a second controlarm slidably mounted on the yoke body; an elevator knob attached to oneend of the second control arm for moving the second control arm forwardor rearward on the yoke body; second linkage means attached to thesecond control arm and adapted for attachment to the second joystick,whereby when the elevator knob is moved forward or rearward on the yokebody, the second linkage means for moving the second joystick fore oraft and controlling the elevators on the airplane; and an aileroncontrol lever attached to the second control arm, whereby when theelevator control lever is moved upward or downward, the second linkagemeans for moving the second joystick left or fight for controlling theailerons on the airplane.
 2. The yoke assembly as described in claim 1wherein the first linkage means includes a first lever arm attached tothe first control arm and a first ball and socket linkage attached tothe first lever arm and adapted for attachment to the first joy stick.3. The yoke assembly as described in claim 2 wherein the second linkagemeans includes a second lever arm attached to the second control arm anda second ball and socket linkage attached to the second lever arm andadapted for attachment to the second joy stick.
 4. The yoke assembly asdescribed in claim 1 wherein the second control arm includes a coilspring therearound for returning the second control arm to a neutralposition after the second control arm has been moved forward orrearward.
 5. The yoke assembly as described in claim 1 further includinga vertical post having an upper end attached to the yoke body, a lowerend of the vertical post is adapted for attachment to the top of the RCtransmitter.
 6. The yoke assembly as described in claim 1 furtherincluding a dashboard attached to the top of the yoke body and extendingupwardly therefrom, the dashboard adapted for receiving a telemetry unitthereon.
 7. The yoke assembly as described in claim 1 further includinga hand grip mounted in front of the yoke body, the hand grip including apair of hand grip handles.
 8. The yoke assembly as described in claim 7further including a stomach rest having a threaded end for attachment toa center of the hand grip, the stomach rest having a stomach engaginground plate adapted for placing against a model plane pilot's stomachand providing stability during the flight operation of the model plane.9. The yoke assembly as described in claim 7 further including ashoulder strap having shoulder strap fasteners for attachment to thehand grip handles.
 10. A cockpit yoke assembly for controlling a modelairplane, the yoke assembly adapted for mounting on a standard radiocontroller transmitter or RC transmitter, the RC transmitter having afirst joystick or left joystick for controlling the plane's throttle andrudder, the RC transmitter having a second joystick or left joystick forcontrolling the plane's elevators and ailerons, the yoke assemblycomprising: a yoke body adapted for mounting on top of the RCtransmitter; a hand grip mounted in front of the yoke body, the handgrip including a pair of hand grip handles; a first control arm slidablymounted on the yoke body; a throttle knob, attached to one end of thefirst control arm, for moving the first control arm forward and rearwardon the yoke body; first linkage means attached to the first control armand adapted for attachment to the first joystick, whereby when thethrottle knob is moved forward or rearward on the yoke body, the firstlinkage means for moving the first joystick fore or aft and controllingthe throttle on the airplane; a rudder control lever attached to thefirst control arm, whereby when the rudder control lever is moved upwardor downward, the first linkage means for moving the first joystick leftor fight and controlling the rudder on the airplane; a second controlarm slidably mounted on the yoke body, the second control arm having acoil spring mounted there around; an elevator knob, attached to one endof the second control arm, for moving the second control arm forward orrearward on the yoke body; second linkage means attached to the secondcontrol arm and adapted for attachment to the second joystick, wherebywhen the elevator knob is moved forward or rearward on the yoke body,the second linkage means for moving the second joystick fore or aft andcontrolling the elevators on the airplane; and an aileron control leverattached to the second control arm, whereby when the elevator controllever is moved upward or downward, the second linkage means for movingthe second joystick left or fight and controlling the ailerons on theairplane.
 11. The yoke assembly as described in claim 10 wherein thefirst linkage means includes a first lever arm attached to the firstcontrol arm and a first ball and socket linkage attached to the firstlever arm and adapted for attachment to the first joy stick.
 12. Theyoke assembly as described in claim 11 wherein the second linkage meansincludes a second lever arm attached to the second control arm and asecond ball and socket linkage attached to the second lever arm andadapted for attachment to the second joy stick.
 13. The yoke assembly asdescribed in claim 10 further including a vertical post having athreaded upper end attached to the yoke body, a threaded lower end ofthe vertical post is adapted for attachment to the top of the RCtransmitter.
 14. The yoke assembly as described in claim 10 furtherincluding a stomach rest having a threaded end for attachment to acenter of the hand grip, the stomach rest having a round plate adaptedfor placing against a model plane pilot's stomach for providingstability during the flight operation of the model plane.
 15. A modelairplane control system for controlling a model airplane, the modelairplane having a receiver mounted thereon for receiving radio signals,the control system comprising: a standard radio controller transmitteror RC transmitter, the RC transmitter having a first joystick or leftjoystick for controlling the plane's throttle and rudder, the RCtransmitter having a second joystick or left joystick for controllingthe plane's elevators and ailerons; a yoke assembly having a yoke bodymounted on top of the RC transmitter: a first control arm slidablymounted on the yoke body; a throttle knob, attached to one end of thefirst control arm, for moving the first control arm forward and rearwardon the yoke body; first linkage means attached to the first control armand attached to the first joystick, whereby when the throttle knob ismoved forward or rearward on the yoke body, the first linkage means formoving the first joystick fore or aft and controlling the throttle onthe airplane; a rudder control lever attached to the first control arm,whereby when the rudder control lever is moved upward or downward, thefirst linkage means for moving the first joystick left or fight andcontrolling the rudder on the airplane; a second control arm slidablymounted on the yoke body; an elevator knob, attached to one end of thesecond control arm, for moving the second control arm forward orrearward on the yoke body; second linkage means attached to the secondcontrol arm and adapted for attachment to the second joystick, wherebywhen the elevator knob is moved forward or rearward on the yoke body,the second linkage means for moving the second joystick fore or aft andcontrolling the elevators on the airplane; and an aileron control leverattached to the second control arm, whereby when the elevator controllever is moved upward or downward, the second linkage means for movingthe second joystick left or fight and controlling the ailerons on theairplane.
 16. The control system as described in claim 15 wherein thefirst linkage means includes a first lever arm attached to the firstcontrol arm and a first ball and socket linkage attached to the firstlever arm and adapted for attachment to the first joy stick.
 17. Thecontrol system as described in claim 16 wherein the second linkage meansincludes a second lever arm attached to the second control arm and asecond ball and socket linkage attached to the second lever arm andattached to the second joy stick.
 18. The control system as described inclaim 15 wherein the second control arm includes a coil springtherearound for returning the second control arm to a neutral positionafter the second control arm has been moved forward or rearward.
 19. Theyoke assembly as described in claim 15 further including a hand gripmounted in front of the yoke body, the hand grip including a pair ofhand grip handles.
 20. The yoke assembly as described in claim 15further including a stomach rest having a threaded end for attachment toa center of the hand grip, the stomach rest having a stomach engaginground plate adapted for placing against a model plane pilot's stomachand providing stability during the flight operation of the model plane.